Results (PDF)

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The UC Irvine women's cross country team continued to impress in its second meet of the season, finishing sixth at the 21-team UC Riverside Invitational Saturday morning at the UCR Ag/Ops Course.
 
It was the Anteaters' second-straight top-eight showing as they previously placed seventh at the Mark Covert Classic on Sept. 1. The 'Eaters also saw a big jump in the standings from last year's UCR Invitational where they came in 22nd overall.
 
"We are very excited about how the women raced today," UC Irvine distance coach Chris Evans said. "The team has transformed itself in the past year and that can be seen in the results. Last year, we finished 14th (among NCAA DI programs) and scored over 400 points. This year, we finished sixth with 186 points. Not only did they run fast, but they raced together."
 
Freshman Hannah Chau led the way, finishing 14th in a field of 170 runners. Chau covered the 6000-meter course in 20:59.2, which ranks eighth in school history (since 2000). She is the first 'Eater to make her way into the program's 6K record book in seven years.
 
"Hannah had a great race," Evans added. "She raced with such composure and strength. She put herself up in the front group and did not back down as the pace picked up. To break 22:00 and put herself among the top UCI runners of the past 18 years in her first 6K race is a great accomplishment."
 
Junior Anastasia Karnaze and freshman Natalie Ewe teamed up to complete the Anteaters' top-three. Karnaze took 44th with a time of 21:49.3, while Ewe was just a step behind in 45th (21:49.4).
 
Junior Keely Boyd, who set a 5K personal record two weeks ago, did the same in the first 6000m race of the season as she clocked in at 21:59.6 (54th). Boyd shaved 42.14 seconds off her previous best.
 
Junior Mariah Theologidy rounded out UC Irvine's scorers in 56th (22:03.2).
 
Freshman Perla Aguilar also made her collegiate debut (22:13.5), and junior Megan Mirkhanian established a lifetime-best 23:00.0.
 
In the 5000-meter Open, sophomore Fiona De Rego paced a quartet of 'Eaters with a time of 19:52.4.
 
UC Irvine will be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 29, when it travels to Sacramento for the Capital Cross Challenge. The meet will be held at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex, which is the same site of this year's NCAA West Regional.
 
38TH ANNUAL UC RIVERSIDE INVITATIONAL
Saturday, Sept. 15
UCR Ag/Ops Course - Riverside, Calif.
 
Women's 6K Invitational Top 5 + UC Irvine (Out of 21 Teams)
1. Southern Utah - 31
2. Cal Baptist - 44
3. Utah Valley - 108
4. Sacramento State - 136
5. Azusa Pacific - 150
6. UC Irvine - 186
 
Women's 6K Invitational Individual Results (170 Runners)
1. Angie Nickerson - Southern Utah (20:00.6)
2. Anett Somogyi - Cal Baptist (20:19.8)
3. Madison Fruchey - Southern Utah (20:26.2)
4. Amy Quinones - Sacramento State (20:32.5)
5. Eileen Stressling - Azusa Pacific (20:35.9)
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14. Hannah Chau (20:59.2)
44. Anastasia Karnaze (21:49.3)
45. Natalie Ewe (21:49.4)
54. Keely Boyd (21:59.6)
56. Mariah Theologidy (22:03.2)
64. Perla Aguilar (22:13.5)
107. Megan Mirkhanian (23:00.0)
112. Brenda Dorantes (23:04.8)
 
Women's 5K Open Individual Results (214 Runners)
1. Ashlee Powers - Cal Coast Track Club (16:49.7)
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96. Fiona De Rego (19:52.4)
120. Daisy Garcia (20:09.1)
123. Veronica Lopez (20:13.4)
185. Amy Flores (22:01.0)